Best MFT Programs in Louisiana Online

Marriage and family therapists are an important mental health resource to families, couples, and even individuals who are facing unique challenges in their relationships. Marriage and family therapists help these demographics through common situations that they face, such as familial trauma, communication issues, abuse, and violence.

Louisiana, like many other states, needs family therapists, especially in rural areas where mental health access is limited or unavailable. If you’re interested in becoming a marriage and family therapist, the first step is enrolling in an MFT degree program and getting licensed.

What is an MFT Degree?

Degrees designed to teach students the fundamentals of marriage and family therapy are often referred to as MFT degrees. These degree programs (most commonly offered at the graduate degree level) are typically utilized by mental health professionals who want to specialize as marriage and family therapists or simply broaden their professional horizons.

Why is COAMFTE MFT Accreditation Important?

One of the most important things to remember as you begin your search for the perfect MFT program is that you should only apply to accredited programs if your goal is licensure. If a program is accredited, it means that it meets the minimum standards for marriage and family therapists as set forth by the state board. Look for schools that have been approved by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) or CACREP if it’s considered a counseling degree.

Can I Get an MFT Degree Online in Louisiana?

Online programs have become increasingly popular among the next generation of marriage and family therapists. Online MFT programs usually provide most or some of their curriculum online and allow students to take classes and complete coursework in their spare time. However, if licensure is your goal, you’ll need to consider what effect online MFT programs will have on your licensure eligibility.

If enrolled in an online MFT degree program based in Louisiana, you will still likely need to commute to campus every so often to fulfill in-person clinical requirements. If you’re enrolled out of state, this commute may be considerable. It will also mean that you may need to transfer your licensure back to Louisiana upon graduation. Currently, the only online MFT degree program based in Louisiana is the University of Louisiana’s Ph.D. program in MFT.

Short Length MFT Programs in Louisiana

The most common type of MFT degree is a master’s degree. One of the main reasons for this is that it’s the most entry-level degree that still allows licensure. This means less time in the classroom and a faster transition into the role of a marriage and family therapist. Master’s degrees typically take 4 years or less, but you can find several in Louisiana that take about 2 years to complete, including the University of Louisiana’s Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy.

Affordable MFT Programs in Louisiana

Possibly the second most important consideration is the cost of your education. There are many MFT programs to choose from, but it’s likely that not all of them will be within your budget. Master’s degrees are a great option for students looking to save a little extra money as they are entry-level and require less of a time commitment. Here are a few of the most affordable MFT master’s degree programs in Louisiana:

MFT Degree Levels

There are several types of MFT degrees available nationwide, but they are primarily offered at the master’s degree and doctorate degree levels. This is because in order to become licensed as a marriage and family therapist, you need to graduate from an MFT graduate degree program.

Apart from MFT graduate degrees, the second most common type of MFT program is an MFT graduate certificate program. Though these are not considered degrees and are not eligible for licensure, they offer valuable insight into marriage and family therapy.

Do I Need a GRE for an MFT Program?

There are some MFT degree programs that require students to submit a GRE (Graduate Record Examination) along with their application. This type of assessment measures a student’s educational placement against the graduate degree program’s curriculum. Not all schools, however, require this, and in fact, most schools in Louisiana (such as Loyola University) don’t. If you’re unsure if your prospective school requires a GRE, take a look at the admissions section on the school’s website.

Master's Degree in MFT

MFT master’s degree programs typically last around two years and require 60 credits. On average, you can expect to pay an average of $48,150 for your MFT master’s degree in Louisiana. There are several marriage and family therapy master’s degrees available in Louisiana:

University of Louisiana: The Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy offered by the University of Louisiana is a great choice for those looking to practice in a clinical setting, whether as a private practitioner or hospitals or community health centers.

Loyola University: Loyola University offers a Marriage, Couples, and Family Counseling track for counseling master’s degree students looking to specialize in this exciting field. If you’re looking for a marriage and family counseling degree program that’s committed to social justice, Loyola University’s program might be for you, as it puts a special focus on this diverse patient population in its curriculum.

Graduate Certificate in MFT

Graduate certificates are not degrees, but many psychology students enroll in MFT graduate certificates after completing a degree program. This is a great option when you’ve majored in generalized psychology or a concentration other than marriage and family therapy, but still want to practice with a strong foundation in MFT.

MFT graduate certificate programs take about a year (or less) to complete and cost around $1,000 to $1,500 in tuition. There are currently no MFT graduate certificate programs available in Louisiana, but you can find them available in nearby states. Online programs are another great option because MFT graduate certificates don’t typically require in-person clinical work. Here are the MFT graduate certificate programs that are currently the closest to Louisiana:

Sam Houston State University: If you’re already trained as a counselor but would like to designate a focus on marriage and family systems, you may be interested in Sam Houston State University’s Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling Graduate Certificate program. The curriculum offered by SHSU is also catered towards any graduate student who is on track to graduate from or is interested in any mental health practice degree.

University of Missouri: The Couple, Marriage, and Family Counseling Graduate Certificate offered by the University of Missouri (St. Louis campus) will build on the MFT graduate degree program already taken on by the student or provide context to marriage and family therapy to students with a psychological background. One unique aspect of this program is that undergraduates are welcome to enroll if they have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Otherwise, all graduate certificates of mental health practitioner programs will be considered.

MFT Doctorate Degrees (Ph.D. or PsyD)

The final graduate certificate available to MFT students is a doctorate degree. MFT doctorate degrees typically take four to eight years and can cost between $35,000 and $100,000+ for the entire tuition.

There are two types of MFT doctorate degrees. The first is a Ph.D. This type of MFT doctorate degree is typically geared more toward researchers and educators and trains them on the theoretical side of marriage and family therapy. The other type is a PsyD degree. This type of doctoral MFT degree is more commonly used to train clinicians and roles that require working with patients. There is currently only one MFT doctoral degree available in Louisiana:

University of Louisiana: The University of Louisiana doesn’t just offer a master’s degree program in MFT – they also offer a Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy. The program combines philosophy and theory, clinical practice, and qualitative and quantitative research and offers a comprehensive approach to training future marriage and family therapy educators, researchers, and clinicians.

Becoming an LMFT in Louisiana

Once you’ve graduated from an MFT graduate degree program, you will be eligible to receive MFT licensure and practice as a marriage and family therapist. The road to licensure is not insignificant. Here’s what you’ll need to accomplish:

• Education: Earn a master’s or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy or a related field from a regionally accredited institution. Ensure your program meets the educational requirements of the Louisiana Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy (LABEMFT).
• Supervised Experience: Accumulate the required supervised clinical experience. Out of the 3,000 hours, 2,000 must be direct client contact hours. You can count up to 500 hours of direct client contact from your graduate training towards this requirement.
• Licensure Examination: Pass the National Examination in Marital and Family Therapy or an equivalent exam recognized by the Louisiana Board.
• Jurisprudence Exam: The Louisiana Board of Examiners will administer an exam that tests the applicant’s knowledge of state laws and ethics concerning marriage and family therapy.
• Application: Submit an application for licensure to the Louisiana Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy. This usually includes providing transcripts, documentation of supervised experience, examination scores, and any other required documentation.
• Background Check: Undergo a criminal background check.
• Supervision: Throughout your supervised experience, you’ll need to work under the supervision of a licensed marriage and family therapist or another qualified mental health professional as specified by the Louisiana Board.
• Continuing Education: LMFTs in Louisiana must complete 40 hours of continuing education every two years to renew their license.

List of MFT Degree Programs in Louisiana

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